Country star shares her favorites of the season ahead of cozy holiday show

Michael Ec, Times Union

By Michael Eck

Published 2:00 pm, Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Martina McBride performs at the ALMA Awards on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

Martina McBride performs at the ALMA Awards on Sunday, Sept. 16,...

Martina McBride arrives at the 46th Annual Country Music Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Martina McBride arrives at the 46th Annual Country Music Awards at...

Martina McBride arrives at the 46th Annual Country Music Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Martina McBride arrives at the 46th Annual Country Music Awards at...

Martina McBride presents the award for male vocalist of the year at the 46th Annual Country Music Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo by Wade Payne/Invision/AP)

Martina McBride presents the award for male vocalist of the year at...

Country singer Martina McBride performs on the NBC "Today" television program, in New York Tuesday April 3, 2007. With her new CD "Waking Up Laughing," the singer for the first time produces an album by herself -- something she claims no other female country star has done at the height of her success. McBride also composes some of her own material for the first time, co-writing three songs, including the first hit, "Anyway." (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

By the time country singer Martina McBride's annual Christmas tour hit the Times Union Center (then still known as the Pepsi Arena) in late 2004, it had become a huge, sparkling affair, with taped backing tracks, giant screens and a pneumatic stage. It had become, McBride says, too much.

A planned one-year break from the holiday run, in 2006, became a six-year stretch, during which McBride stayed home for Christmas with her family and reconsidered what might make for a better balance between hearth and highway.

Her new seasonal tour, "The Joy of Christmas," which comes to the considerably smaller Palace Theatre on Friday, is scaled back but still chock-full of McBride's favorite songs and stories. She might — she hints — even sing a few of her hits this time around, just to keep everyone happy.

Q: Do you have special childhood memories of Christmas music?

A: We always had Christmas music playing at Christmas time every year. One of the songs I remember best was "Blue Christmas" by Elvis Presley. My dad would play that every year. I was really glad that I got to perform that with Elvis on the "Elvis Presley Christmas Duets" record that RCA did a few years ago. It was a cool thing to be a part of, and it was amazing to hear that voice coming through the headphones. It was also special to be able to do that for my dad.

Q: What makes Christmas songs special for you?

A: I just love Christmas. It's a magical time of year and the songs are associated with some of people's best memories. There's a very limited time when you get to sing Christmas songs, so it's just special.

With this tour, I've tried to create a whole environment that's beautiful to look at, with beautiful music to listen to. It's fun. There's stuff for kids and the whole family. This year I was really ready to bring it back and do it again. I'm so excited. It's such a fun show to do and it's so different than what I do the rest of the year.

Q: How different is the current version of the show?

A: We have string players, background singers and a five-piece band on stage now. We are still incorporating some video, and I still go out in the audience and talk to people. We're doing most of the songs from (1998's holiday release) "White Christmas" and adding a few pop Christmas songs like "All I Want for Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey and, of course, "Blue Christmas."

I don't want to give it all away. It's really similar to the old show but it's more cozy. There's something about putting on a Christmas show in an arena that, as much fun as it was, felt a little distant and big. Now I'll be able to really see everybody and make a little more of a connection, which I'm really looking forward to.

Q: What's your favorite silly Christmas song?

A: "Winter Wonderland" always seemed so childlike to me. It's not silly, but it's full of wonder. We do that one in the show and we have something special planned for it. That's my favorite lighthearted one

Q: And your favorite serious Christmas song?

A: I have to say "O Holy Night." I love singing that song. I love "Oh Come, All Ye Faithful" as well. They're both really powerful, melodically and lyrically. I love those two.